Najib: GDP must grow 6% yearly to be developed nation in 2020

Written by Bernama
Monday, 09 November 2009 15:35

PUTRAJAYA: The government must redouble its efforts, identify new growth areas and ensure the nation maintains 6% annual GDP growth from now to 2020 in order to achieve a developed status in 11 years, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The Prime Minister said on Monday, Nov 9 that measures to redouble the government's efforts and identify new growth areas would be spelled out in the new economic model, expected to be launched by end of the year.

"The new economic model would provide a clear guideline on what needs to be done and obviously information, communications and TECHNOLOGY [] [ICT] would play a greater role in this," he said after chairing the 21st Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Malaysia Implementation Council Meeting. This was the first meeting to be chaired by Najib after becoming the prime minister.

On the GDP growth rate, Najib, said the government would have to be realistic with its projections, pointing out it would be difficult to maintain a high growth rate at a time when the world is facing an economic crisis.

"Realistically, we can achieve the 6% growth when the global economy recovers. We still have not recovered from the global recession. We export goods and therefore we need the West to buy these goods. When there is recovery in the West, then we can achieve the growth," he added.

On the MSC, he said the corridor was progressing as expected with over 2,000 MSC-status companies and almost 4,000 intellectual-property rights registered.

In 2008, MSC-status companies generated RM21.8 billion in revenue, with local companies contributing 69% of the total, representing a
growth of 27% 2007.

"MSC Malaysia status companies made a contribution of RM7.1 billion in exports in 2008 and this is a reflection of our ICT industry. The number of jobs created in the MSC has also increased in tandem with the increase in companies.

"There are now over 92,000 high-skill jobs in the MSC. I expect that we would be on track in meeting the goal of 100,000 jobs by end-2010," he added.

Najib, however, said Malaysia needed to work quickly in creating an abundant supply of well-trained and multi-skilled ICT workers who would be on par with the best of the world.

During the meeting, the prime minister also said he had emphasised the need for more government ministries and agencies to adopt local ICT solutions provided that these solutions and services were cost competitive and of high quality.

"I also feel that the government should utilise electronic means of outreach such as email, text messages and social networks to connect to the rakyat. For example, SMS can be used to notify the people of floods and potential landslides.

"On the same note, I would also like to see a higher utilisation of MyKad to provide more convenience to the people. This demonstrates that, while ICT can be a complex subject, at the end of the day, the people can benefit from it by using a tool like MyKad," said Najib.

He was also pleased by the progress made by the agriculture flagship in the MSC, which was crucial in ensuring national food security and improving the income of farmers by leveraging innovation and ICT. — Bernama